Alstroemeria plant named &#39;zalsarai&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Alstroemeria  plant named ‘Zalsarai’, characterized by its erect and strong flowering stems; vigorous growth habit; large dark red-colored flowers; excellent postproduction longevity; and relative tolerance to high temperatures.

Botanical designation: Alstroemeria hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘ZALSARAI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant, botanically known as Alstroemeria hybrida, commercially used as a cut flower Alstroemeria, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Zalsarai’.

The new Alstroemeria plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new cut flower Alstroemeria plants with desirable flower and plant qualities, attractive and unique flower coloration and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new Alstroemeria plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands in May, 2009 of a proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection identified as code number 52775-1, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection identified as code number 42713-11, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Alstroemeria plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands in July, 2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new Alstroemeria plant by rhizome divisions in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands since September, 2010 has shown that the unique features of this new Alstroemeria plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Zalsarai’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Zalsarai’ as a new and distinct Alstroemeria plant:

-   -   1. Erect and strong flowering stems.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Large dark red-colored flowers.     -   4. Excellent postproduction longevity.     -   5. Relatively tolerant to high temperatures.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plants of the female parent selection primarily in flower color as the inner perianth lateral segments of plants of the new Alstroemeria have small central yellow-colored areas whereas the inner perianth lateral segments of plants of the female parent selection have distinct central white-colored areas.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plants of the male parent selection primarily in flower color as the inner perianth lateral segments of plants of the new Alstroemeria have small central yellow-colored areas whereas the inner perianth lateral segments of plants of the male parent selection have larger and distinct central yellow-colored areas.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Zalsanao’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,836. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands, plants of the new Alstroemeria differed primarily from plants of ‘Zalsanao’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had heavier flowering stems         than plants of ‘Zalsanao’.     -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had narrower leaves than         plants of ‘Zalsanao’.     -   3. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had larger flowers than plants         of ‘Zalsanao’.     -   4. Inner perianth lateral segments of plants of the new         Alstroemeria had fewer stripes than inner perianth lateral         segments of ‘Zalsanao’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Alstroemeria plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Alstroemeria plant. The photograph comprises a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘Zalsarai’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements describe plants of the new Alstroemeria grown during the mid to late summer in ground beds in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 15° C., soil temperatures averaged 15° C. and light levels averaged 5,000 lux. Plants were one year old when the photograph and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Zalsarai’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida             selection identified as code number 52775-1, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida             selection identified as code number 42713-11, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—In vitro rhizogenesis.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 40 days             at temperatures of 16° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 60 days             at temperatures of 16° C. to 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, fleshy, thick; color, close to             155D.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.         -   Rhizomes.—Shape: Elongate; rounded. Length: About 10 cm to             30 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm to 10 mm. Texture: Smooth.             Color: Close to 155D. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright; freely branching, bushy             appearance; vigorous growth habit; rapid growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 100 cm to 140 cm.         -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 25 cm to 30 cm. -   Flowering stem description:     -   -   Aspect.—Erect.         -   Length.—About 120 cm to 126 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 6 mm to 8 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1 cm to 12 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Close to 139C. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Appearance.—Leaves asymmetrical, simple; sessile.         -   Length.—About 10 cm to 19 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.9 cm to 2.8 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Moderately glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.         -   Color.—Developing and fully developed leaves, upper surface:             Close to N137A; venation, close to 144B. Developing and             fully developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 138C;             venation, close to 144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single cup-shaped flowers arranged in             compound umbels; flowers face mostly outwardly; perianth             segments separate; freely flowering habit, about 35 to 52             flower buds and open flowers developing per flowering stem.         -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering continuous during the             spring in The Netherlands; plants begin flowering about 80             to 90 days after planting.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower longevity.—About four weeks on the plant and about             two to three weeks as a cut flower; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 4 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.             Shape: Roughly ovoid. Color: Close to 184A.         -   Umbel height.—About 12 cm to 13.5 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 18 cm to 21 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 7 cm to 8 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 7 cm.         -   Perianth.—Arrangement: Six arranged in two whorls, each             whorl with two lateral and one median segments. Inner             perianth, lateral segments: Length: About 7.4 cm to 7.6 cm.             Width: About 1.7 cm to 1.9 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex:             Cuspidate. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Shallowly serrate.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             when opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 42C;             center, close to 162C; towards the apex (center), close to             47A; stripes, close to 183B. Color, when opening and fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 47C. Inner perianth, median             segment: Length: About 5.8 cm to 6.2 cm. Width: About 1.7 cm             to 1.9 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Cuspidate. Base:             Cuneate. Margin: Shallowly serrate. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, when opening and fully             opened, upper surface: Close to 42C; towards the apex, close             to 47A. Color, when opening and fully opened, lower surface:             Close to 47C. Outer perianth, lateral segments: Length:             About 6.1 cm to 6.3 cm. Width: About 2.8 cm to 3 cm. Shape:             Obovate. Apex: Embedded point. Base: Cuneate. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color, when opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close             to 47A. Color, when opening and fully opened, lower surface:             Close to 46A. Outer perianth, median segment: Length: About             6.4 cm to 6.7 cm. Width: About 2.8 cm to 3 cm. Shape:             Obovate. Apex: Embedded point. Base: Cuneate. Margin:             Shallowly serrate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Color, when opening and fully opened,             upper surface: Close to 47A. Color, when opening and fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 46A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 3 cm to 3.5 cm. Diameter: About             2 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: About 25° from vertical.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 139C.         -   Reproductive structures.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Six.             Anther shape: Elliptic. Anther length: About 8 mm. Anther             color: Close to 184A. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color:             Close to 189B. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Style             length: About 4.5 cm. Style color: Close to 59C. Stigma             color: Close to 59C. Ovary color: Close to 148A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development has not been             observed on plants of the new Alstroemeria. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Alstroemeria plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have been     observed to tolerate temperatures from about 1° C. to about 40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Alstroemeria plant named ‘Zalsarai’ as illustrated and described. 